Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

all social events, and gyms FFS

Gyms are closed.

There are no public social events - cinemas, theatres, museums, pubs, clubs etc all closed. Cafes and Restaurants are take away or delivery only.

The only social events that have been happening are the people having illegal gathering in their homes.

The police are enforcing restrictions. Some have been arrested, others fined, warnings given.

 

[kamchatsky]

I still don't understand this. It's been done everywhere else.

And on this point: ASKING people to stay home (as Gladys has been) is insipid and ineffective.

TELLING them to stay home and REMOVING the reasons they go out by closing retail except essential, and all social events, and gyms FFS (and ENFORCING THESE RESTRICTIONS) is the only thing that will bring numbers down to acceptable levels so people can return to their covid-normal lives (and in NSW, that's checking exposure sites, and then getting on with things, which I think we should all be hoping to get to in the future).

The only issue I see is that people would still go out anyway (for legitimate reasons), so unless there are police everywhere (not just those specific LGAs), it will be very difficult to enforce.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Thankfully the number in ICU has reduced by 1

Ventilation is up 1.

 

[Lynda2475]

ASKING people to stay home (as Gladys has been) is insipid and ineffective.

And its fanciful to believe that during Vics lockdowns there werent also people breaking the rules, we know they were.

Talking to your residents like small children is also not effective.

You need to chill.

 

[MooTime]

a 10km ring from your home for exercise, but can go further for shopping.

again, why not just introduce a 5km zone like Melbourne did, it's sole purpose is to restrict movement, it's simple & works so well IMO.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Well at NSW Government took out of Vic playbook - exercise 10km radius or LGA for exercise (Vic was 5km)

Wonder whether NSW will go to prescribing what can be open at tomorrow's press conference (also from Vic's playbook)

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

a 10km ring from your home for exercise, but can go further for shopping.

again, why not just introduce a 5km zone like Melbourne did, it's sole purpose is to restrict movement, it's simple & works so well IMO.

I might be mistaken, but didn't the 5km rule have the usual exceptions (the now well known 4 reasons)? Vic also had a one hour exercise rule at one point I think.

 

[Lynda2475]

a 10km ring from your home for exercise, but can go further for shopping

Because in some of the outer suburbs you have to go further to get to a supermarket or chemist or get vaccinated. Greater Sydney is physically 25% larger (i.e more spreadout) than Greater Melbourne.

Of course you know that it was also allowed in Vic lockdown if your nearest shop was further away or if you had a medical appointment or to give care.

Most people do shop much closer to home anyway. The exercise one is to stop people living outside the local area travelling to the coastal walks, Bay run, Beaches, Big Parks etc which can get over crowded with gyms closed.

 

[Pushka]

I still don't understand this. It's been done everywhere else.

That was last year. I think even in SA people are not as compliant as they were back then. A couple of errors (pizza box and recent tightening of restrictions before we even had a case additional to border controls) had meant that people are coming to realise there needs to be other options to manage. Unfortunately the vaccine roll out has been too slow and Delta too fast.

 

[Princess Fiona]

a 10km ring from your home for exercise, but can go further for shopping.

again, why not just introduce a 5km zone like Melbourne did, it's sole purpose is to restrict movement, it's simple & works so well IMO.

I’m also wondering why there is no curfew.
I’m no public health expert though but it would seem to make sense.

 

[bcworld]

I might be mistaken, but didn't the 5km rule have the usual exceptions (the now well known 4 reasons)?

No. You could not exercise or grocery shop outside the 5km (unless there were no shops within the 5km).

If you needed to work outside the 5km you needed a permit to do so.

 

[ellen10]

a 10km ring from your home for exercise, but can go further for shopping.

again, why not just introduce a 5km zone like Melbourne did, it's sole purpose is to restrict movement, it's simple & works so well IMO.

I live on the coast in the Wollongong area. I support the 10k or less rule. Oh my goodness so many people down here from the Sydney western suburbs and big family groups at our playgrounds. A friend spoke to them, and they say "we are allowed to go out and exercise wherever we want". I get it that its much nicer to be by the ocean, but we just need to limit our travel at the moment.

And so many locals also, its wall to wall people walking, riding and gathering in around the Wollongong harbour, no social distancing. I'm all for sharing our beautiful location, but not so much at this time.

I've taken to walking my local streets, no one around.

 

[Lynda2475]

I’m also wondering why there is no curfew.

Because it discriminates against workers who cant shop or exercise during business hours. If people following the other restrictions it adds no extra value but a lot of extra stress.

The virus isnt more infectious at 8pm then 1pm, if people want to grocery shop outside business hours to minimize contact with strangers then this is actually a good thing.

Look at the exposure sites since lockdown began (not those that occurred before restriction), and virtually none of them have happened at a time that a curfew would prevent.

The data doesn't support it would be of benefit.

 

[Lynda2475]

If you needed to work outside the 5km you needed a permit to do so.

Which were not hard to get. I was managing Melbourne based workforce during lock down last year, and provided workers were in the field solo (or onsite where they could stick to 4sqm rule) it was easy to get.

The exercise distance limit makes sense, walking in your local area is easy. Some people will however continue to need to go further to work, access essential medical appointments, vaccinations and shops if they are on the outskirts.

 

[MooTime]

I live on the coast in the Wollongong area. I support the 10k or less rule. Oh my goodness so many people down here from the Sydney western suburbs and big family groups at our playgrounds. A friend spoke to them, and they say "we are allowed to go out and exercise wherever we want". I get it that its much nicer to be by the ocean, but we just need to limit our travel at the moment.

And so many locals also, its wall to wall people walking, riding and gathering in around the Wollongong harbour, no social distancing. I'm all for sharing our beautiful location, but not so much at this time.

I've taken to walking my local streets, no one around.

yep, the playgrounds are a hotspot, family & friends always gather there. If you have kids, it's fair enough, but too many just flaunt the rules.
Golf course too are hotspots for catching up, no golfers & plenty beautiful grass to 'exercise'. Kids in the bunkers, great fun. Dogs running around!

1 hour exercise is ample for each individual per day, let's be honest how many ppl do more than that, by the look of some ppl it's an hour per year.
Curfew, why not, who needs to be out at 10pm? if you have an essential reason, fair enough, others NO.

This is why NSW is on lockdown-lite, too much movement.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

The messaging today is very clear that there is no plan B.

The NSW Premier is not going to publicly flag a Plan B (eg end of lockdown too soon - giving up on zero) today. There have been enough tremors. NSW Health Minister did his job and so did NSW Treasurer. At the moment, NSW Government needs high compliance and hence the ramping up and the cliff message "there is no other option".

I think its still NSW Government's position that if there is no additional financial support to support a longer lockdown, then it will end too soon for some other States.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Because it discriminates against workers who cant shop or exercise during business hours. If people following the other restrictions it adds no extra value but a lot of extra stress.

The virus isnt more infectious at 8pm then 1pm, if people want to grocery shop outside business hours to minimize contact with strangers then this is actually a good thing.

Look at the exposure sites since lockdown began (not those that occurred before restriction), and virtually none of them have happened at a time that a curfew would prevent.

The data doesn't support it would be of benefit.

Naughty business happens after midnight/2am - as the saying goes "nothing good happens after midnight/2am"

If the Sydney lockdown goes past 4 weeks, except (edit:, meant expect) a curfew lol Its only value is psychological signalling.

 

[Lynda2475]

Naughty business happens after midnight/2am

Well those people aren't likely to comply anyway.

Most supermarkets and local restaurants close at 10pm, any future curfew needs to be after 10pm.

Police already have the power /authority to stop you and ask you why you are out. They can fine you if they feel it is in breach of the 4 reasons, no matter what time of day it is. Curfew doesn't change this.

 

[burmans]

As was stated in the press conference (and I agree with) the problem seems more to be compliance with existing health orders than the orders themselves. Stay at home means just that, gyms have always been closed, visiting family members or friends (i.e. social events) has never been an allowed activity and while shopping for food and other goods and services has been an allowed activity, going to the local mall to hang out never was.

The problem here has always been people taking the piss, and compliance should be enforced if people wont do what they have been told to do.

 

[antycbr]

Well those people aren't likely to comply anyway.

Most supermarkets and local restaurants close at 10pm, any future curfew needs to be after 10pm.

Police already have the power /authority to stop you and ask you why you are out. They can fine you if they feel it is in breach of the 4 reasons, no matter what time of day it is. Curfew doesn't change this.

Curfew has a massive psychological impact about the seriousness of the situation. Supermarket shopping is a sideshow.